6 Reasons to Sow Into a Prophetic Word

Have you ever wondered why people say you should sow into a prophetic word when you receive one? I certainly have–and I have had readers ask me for an explanation of this also.

Therefore, to help everyone at once, I researched the matter in the Scriptures. I wanted to give I could give as thorough an explanation as possible.

Key: While I researched, I didn’t look up anyone else’s opinions.

I simply researched what the Bible says about this. And in the Scriptures themselves, I identified six specific reasons why we should always sow into a prophetic word when the Lord speaks to us.

Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are six Biblical reasons why you should always sow into a prophetic word:

1. Because Scripture commands us not to appear before the Lord empty-handed.

When you receive a prophetic word and it resonates with you, you are immediately transported into the manifest presence of God:

• You sense Him near you and within you;
• You feel Him touching you, like a big hug; and
• You immediately begin praying and talking to Him about the word, and about the needs you have in your life relative to that word.

And that, my friend, is an encounter with God. And God has no gateway for approaching Him other than Jesus Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As Jesus taught us in John 14:6:

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'” (John 14:6 NKJV).

So it’s not like you can’t approach the Father without sowing a seed. JESUS is our Way; seed-sowing and offering to the Lord is not the entranceway to approaching Him.

Nevertheless, sowing a seed IS an acknowledgement that we are purposely approaching Him about a word when we receive a word:

• Sowing that seed when you approach Him is an act of respect and reverence.
• It is an acknowledgement of that fact that you admit He is here with you; that He is for you; and that He is speaking specifically to you from His heart of love.
• So, it is a form of showing honor to Him, thanking Him for His touch, and for the ministry of His Holy Spirit to you, right in the middle of that prophetic word and encounter.

To be totally transparent, I had actually never paid attention to this command until I started researching Scriptures for this article.

I had heard the concept of “do not appear before the Lord empty-handed” mentioned before, and I have read the books where this command was included. But, I did not remember the command at all. And frankly, I did not realize or remember that it was even in the Bible.

So, I was pretty shocked when I read the Scriptures below. Look at Deuteronomy 16:16-17:

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you”(Deuteronomy 16:16-17 NKJV, emphasis mine).

Then, check out Exodus 23:14-17:

“‘Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: you shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);

and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God’” (Exodus 23:14-17 NKJV, emphasis mine).

The point I want you to notice from this passage in Exodus 23 is that, at the special time of coming before God, again we were commanded not to appear before Him empty (or empty-handed). Now that Jesus fulfilled the Law, we no longer have to keep the feasts (although we get to if we want to; it’s still a privilege and a special act of worship).

However, we do still have special times of appearing before God.

“Special times of appearing before God” could include:

• Going to church;
• A season of fasting and prayer;
• Going on a spiritual retreat to pray and be strengthened in the Lord;
• Coming before the Lord every morning for your quiet time alone with Him; and more!

Basically, if you come before the Lord on purpose–expecting, desiring, or receiving an encounter with Him–then you are appearing before Him. And Scripture says that you ought not to appear before Him empty-handed.

“But that’s too legalistic! We are under grace!” you say?

Hmmm. Funny thing about that thought is that Scripture requires much more of us under grace than it ever did under the Law:

• Under the Law, people gave prescribed offerings at certain times.
• But under grace, such as in the book of Acts, God’s people sold everything they had and gave to the poor, so that no one had either too little or too much.

Which one requires more sacrificial giving? Grace does.

But friend, God always provides for His people.

Don’t let fear of not having enough keep you from believing, understanding, and receiving the truth.

The truth is that, when you come before a holy God for any reason–whether to worship Him, thank Him, or petition Him for grace to help in time of need–you are NOT to appear before God empty-handed.

I got so convicted about this even this morning, while I was reading this, and I sowed a seed right away. Why?

Because I got up this morning and came alone into my prayer room, as I always do, not as an exercise for my health, but because I desire to encounter God. I need Him more than my body needs air, and I need His help for absolutely everything in life.

So, I realized I was on holy ground; I was coming before God. And I realized that I must not come before Him empty-handed. And therefore, I sowed a seed as soon as I read these Scriptures.

Friend, don’t let fear dictate or limit your response to God’s Word.

If you’re struggling with fear about money, ask the Lord to fill you with His perfect love, which casts out fear.

God will never allow you to go without financially if you will put Him first financially and obey all His commands, especially the financial ones. Let God be true and every man a liar! Our God is FAITHFUL, and He will be faithful to you. Believe Him today, and do not come before Him empty-handed from now on!

2. Because sowing into a prophetic word puts immediate works to your faith, and faith without works is dead.

If you receive a word and you believe it, you have to act on it. If you don’t act on it, you’ve got faith without works. (“Works” means actually doing something about what you believe.)

James chapter 2 is very clear on the topic of how faith without works is dead:

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:14-24 NKJV).

So it’s one thing to say you believe God, but if you actually believe, you’ll ACT on what you believe. That’s why James wrote that he would show his faith by his works. In other words, he was saying that if he really believes something, you’ll know he believes it because you’ll see him acting on it.

Friend, you have to put “shoe leather” to your faith.

If you really believe something, you’ll believe it so deeply that it will compel you to act on that thing. (Putting “show leather” to my passion for supporting church pastors is actually the driving motivation behind our “Paid-For Parsonages for Pastors Project!”) And if you don’t act on what you believe, then you don’t really believe it.

When you get a prophetic word that resonates with you (click here to read what to do if a word DOESN’T resonate with you), you have to act on it. And sowing a seed is an immediate, accessible, self-sacrificial way to say to the Lord:

“Father, thank You for this download of the eternal that You just gave me. Thank You for showing me Your eternal purposes for my life. Thank You for telling me Your thoughts about me today, and for showing me more about what You want me to do.

I sow this seed today because I do believe it, and I want this word to mark me. And I know that sacrificing something by sowing a seed will mark me.

Therefore, Father, please accept this seed as evidence of my faith, and bring me and my actions into submission to Yourself so that I can see this word come into fruition and manifestation. Thank You, Father God. I give You this seed as evidence of my faith, in Jesus’ name.”

3. Because money answers all things (see Ecclesiastes 10:19).

Money touches, responds to, and answers all things. As it says in Ecclesiastes 10:19:

“A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19 NKJV).

But here’s the kicker: we need to check out what the word “answers” means in the Hebrew.

Strong’s Concordance says that this word for “answer” in Ecclesiastes 10:19 means the following:

“… to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; [by extension] to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce:–give account, … (cause to, give) answer, … cry, hear, … lift up, say, … (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.”

Ummm … did you see that? Money not only responds to a thing, but money also SINGS, SHOUTS, TESTIFIES, announces, lifts up, and bears witness about all things!

What does this have to do with sowing a seed into a prophetic word? Simply this:

When you sow a financial seed into a prophetic word, that money actually responds to the word and sings, shouts, testifies, announces, LIFTS UP, and bears witness about that word!

That means that money goes to work as an act of praise and celebration to the Lord over that word!

And since nothing happens in the Kingdom without words being spoken first …

(Note that God’s spoken Word is the original creative force; He SPEAKS to create, and that is how He uses US to create too) …

But since God’s word will not return to Him void, but it will accomplish the thing for which He sent it …

Then the very act of sowing a seed into the prophetic word begins creating its manifestation, since your seed offering shouts, testifies, announces, sings, lifts up, and bears witness about that word!

Wow! Thank You, Abba Father! I feel like sowing right now! HALLELUJAH!

4. Because sowing a seed is a way of honoring a prophet, so you can receive a prophet’s reward.

In Matthew 10:40-42, Jesus said this:

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:40-42 NKJV).

If you receive a prophet in the name of a prophet, you shall receive a prophet’s reward.

What does it mean to receive a prophet “in the name of a prophet”?

Receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet simply means:

• acknowledging that they are a prophet;
• listen WITH A DISCERNING EAR to what they say; (test it first against Scripture before you decide to believe it); and
• receiving the prophetic word they speak as long as it lines up with Scripture.

Those caveats in the list above are very important, for you must test everything that anyone says against Scripture to find out whether it is true or not. Isaiah 8:20 says this:

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20 NKJV).

So if someone is speaking things that do NOT align with Scripture, then there is no light in them and they are not a true prophet of the Lord.

On the other hand, if a prophet’s words DO align with Scripture, you have the green light to move on to the next question:

What on earth is a prophet’s reward?

The prophet’s reward has many elements, including:

• Impartation of the gifts that the Lord has placed on that prophet;
• Impartation of the faith that prophet had to even hear the word from the Lord (you can’t hear God very well without faith, and certainly not for big things);
• Impartation of the hunger for God that the prophet has, which drew him or her near enough to God to hear that word; and
• Fulfillment of the word which was spoken.

So when you honor a prophet, you receive a prophet’s reward.

Second Chronicles 20:20 also says that you’ll be blessed if you receive a godly prophetic word:

“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper’” (2 Chronicles 20:20 NKJV, emphasis mine).

So again, sowing a seed is a way of not only honoring a prophet, but also honoring God who sent the prophet. In order to truly believe the word, you have to act on it. And when you DO truly believe it (to the point of acting on it), you will receive a prophet’s reward and you will also prosper.

5. Sow a seed into a prophetic word because you can name your seed, and it will come up as what you name it.

When you sow an offering, you can give it a name. You can call it whatever you want it to come up as, and it will.

Money is like stem cells: it can become anything. Again, remember what the Word says in Ecclesiastes 10:19:

“A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything” (Ecclesiastes 10:19 NKJV).

So when you give your seed offering a name, you call it a thing and give it direction. You literally tell it what to answer. And your seed offering will grow and come up as the name you gave it.

If you’re curious about the long list of Scriptures behind this concept, I have a whole article about it for you. Read here, in my article entitled Name Your Seed When You Sow an Offering, for more about the Scriptures that tell us that a financial offering can be a “seed” that can come up as anything you sow it for.

And finally …

6. To thank God and give Him glory.

In Luke 17, we read a heartbreaking story about how Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one of them returned to thank Him. This passage cuts me to the heart every time I read it.

Luke 17:11-19 says:

“Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well”” (Luke 17:11-19 NKJV, emphasis mine).

O beloved. How much are we like these ungrateful nine lepers?

What I mean is:

Jesus gave all ten lepers a word from the Father. (Jesus ONLY spoke what the Father spoke, so we know that what He told the lepers was from the Father.) He told them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

As those lepers acted on that word, they were healed: “as they went, they were cleansed.” But only ONE of them returned. Only one of them “with a loud voice glorified God” … and only one of those ten cleansed lepers fell down on his face at Jesus feet, giving him thanks.

That one thankful leper wasn’t even a Jew. He was a Samaritan–considered by the Jews to be the lowest of the low; the scum of the earth.

But the “scum” gave God thanks. And Jesus openly wondered where the other nine lepers were.

He said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

O friend. Where were the nine? They were trotting off in their healed state, having had the on-time word of God accomplish its work in them. THEY WERE HEALED! But they did not give God glory nor thanks for what He had done, and for the word He had said.

Only a foreigner–a person undeserving, to the Jewish mindset anyway–returned to give God thanks and glory.

God, have mercy on us all. Again, how much are we like that?

But beloved, we are not foreigners to God.

You and I are a blood-bought children of God. If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, God has adopted you as His child and brought you into His own household as a beloved son or daughter.

As He wrote in Ephesians 2:

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV, emphasis mine).

And as God’s beloved children, my friend …

How much more should we return to Him after He speaks to us, fall on His feet, and give Him thanks and glory?

And since money answers all things …

• Is not sowing an offering …
• from a correct heart posture of worship …
• throwing ourselves at Jesus’ feet …
• face down in humility before Him …
• TOGETHER with thanking Him with our words of gratitude and praise …

… is not sowing an offering in that way, and from that posture, an appropriate way to give Him glory and thanksgiving?

Of course it is. And we must. We must do it. He is WORTHY!

So, to recap …

Here are the six reasons to sow a seed into a prophetic word when you receive one:

1. Because Scripture commands us not to appear before the Lord empty-handed.
2. Because sowing into a prophetic word puts immediate works to your faith, and faith without works is dead.
3. Because money answers all things.
4. Because sowing a seed is a way of honoring a prophet, so you can receive a prophet’s reward.
5. Sow a seed into a prophetic word because you can name your seed, and it will come up as what you name it.
6. To give God glory and thanksgiving for what He has done.

Beloved, sowing a seed into a prophetic word isn’t just some concept that televangelists came up with to try to get your money. Giving to the Lord during these moments of hearing from Him is actually in the Bible. And when God asks us (or even commands us!) to give, He’s not trying to get something from you. He’s trying to get something TO you.

But the seed has to go in the ground in order to bring a harvest.

If you’re not sure where to sow, I recommend that you sow into the same good ground that the prophetic word came from. If you’re not sure what constitutes good ground versus bad ground, read here for 3 ways to differentiate between good ground and bad ground.

But beloved, after you’ve got the understanding from the Scriptures, there remains only to obey. And I thank God that He gives us His Word (the written Word of God) PLUS His on-time, right-now rhema (prophetic) word by the voice of His Holy Spirit. I thank God for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our gratitude by sowing a seed–for letting us bring thank offerings to His name.

Have you received a prophetic word lately? If so, will you sow a seed into it–and make a habit of doing so from now on, now that you understand the Scriptures?

If so, stop and give God the glory due His name right now! And while you’re at it, if this Bible study fired you up, leave a comment below!